JP4333453B2 - Vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a passing light distribution lamp in which the light distribution range on the opposite lane side is narrowed, a high-speed light distribution lamp in which a far field of view is enhanced by widening the light distribution range toward the front of the vehicle during high-speed traveling, and a vehicle traveling The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp comprising vehicle speed detection means for detecting a speed and control means for lighting the high-speed light distribution lamp when the speed detected by the vehicle speed detection means is equal to or higher than a reference speed.

Nowadays, in addition to a general passing light distribution lamp, a high-speed light distribution lamp that uses a wide light distribution range to the front of the vehicle to improve the far field of view is used (for example, see Patent Document 1). Since this high-speed light distribution lamp is intended to secure a far field of view during high-speed traveling, it is generally set to be additionally lit when the vehicle speed reaches a reference speed.
JP-A-7-246873

  However, if the reference speed is set too low in the vehicular lamp that turns on the high-speed light distribution lamp when the vehicle speed reaches the reference speed, the vehicle speed easily reaches the reference speed. There is a risk that the lighting of the lamp will frequently be turned on and off, causing trouble for the driver. In addition, frequent lighting / extinguishing has a problem of adversely affecting the bulb life of high-speed light distribution lamps.

  On the other hand, if the reference speed is set too high, the lamp for high-speed light distribution does not light up easily, so it is impossible to secure a far field of view at a desired timing, and the driver is switched to give a sense of delay in timing. There was a problem of fear.

  This invention is made | formed in view of said problem, and makes it a subject to provide the vehicle lamp which the lamp for high-speed light distribution lights at a driver | operator's desired timing.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a far light distribution lamp having a narrow light distribution range on the opposite lane side, and a far field of view by expanding the light distribution range toward the front of the vehicle during high-speed traveling. A high-speed light distribution lamp having a high speed, vehicle speed detection means for detecting the speed of the vehicle, and lighting the high-speed light distribution lamp when the speed detected by the vehicle speed detection means is equal to or higher than a reference speed. In the vehicular lamp provided with the control means, the control means calculates the acceleration of the vehicle based on the speed detected by the vehicle speed detection means, and calculates the value of the reference speed according to the calculated acceleration. When the calculated acceleration is maintained at a low value, the reference speed value is changed to a high value, and the calculated acceleration is maintained at a low value, and then the vehicle speed is changed. Inspection When the speed detected by the means maintains a value near the reference speed before the setting is changed, the reference speed is changed to a value lower than the reference speed before the setting is changed. characterized in that it.

  By using the vehicular lamp according to the present invention, the control unit changes the reference speed according to the acceleration of the vehicle, so that the high-speed light distribution lamp can be turned on at a timing suitable for the driver.

  In particular, when the vehicle is accelerating rapidly, it is possible to easily turn on the high-speed light distribution lamp by changing the reference speed to a low value, thereby making it easy to secure a far field of view. Furthermore, when the vehicle is accelerating slowly, delay the timing to turn on the high-speed light distribution lamp to clarify the field of view near the vehicle, and turn on the high-speed light distribution lamp after the speed has increased to some extent. The high-speed light distribution lamp can be turned on at a timing suitable for the driver.

  Hereinafter, a vehicular lamp according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The vehicular lamp according to the present invention is a vehicular headlamp 1, and as shown in FIG. 1, a passing light distribution lamp 2, a high-speed light distribution lamp 3, a vehicle speed detection unit 4, and an expressway detection A unit 5 and a control unit 6 are provided.

  The passing light distribution lamp 2 is a lamp that illuminates the irradiation range indicated by the symbol A in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the irradiation range on the right side in front of the vehicle is narrower than the irradiation range on the left side. This is because, if the vehicle traveling direction is left-hand traffic as in Japan, brightening the right front may cause dazzling oncoming vehicles. For this reason, when the advancing direction of the vehicle is right-hand traffic, the light distribution range on the left side on the front lane side becomes narrow.

  The high-speed light distribution lamp 3 is a lamp that illuminates the irradiation range indicated by the symbol B in FIGS. The high-speed light distribution lamp 3 illuminates a portion of the passing light distribution lamp 2 where the irradiation range is narrowed, so that the driver can easily secure a far field of view ahead of the vehicle.

  The vehicle speed detection unit 4 receives a vehicle speed pulse from the vehicle body 7 and obtains a traveling speed based on the received vehicle speed pulse. In addition, it is good also as a structure which detects the traveling position of the vehicle 7 using GPS etc., and calculates | requires the traveling position change of the vehicle 7 per time, ie, a moving speed.

  The highway detection unit 5 detects whether the road on which the vehicle 7 is traveling is an expressway or a general road. Here, the expressway means a road having a speed limit of 80 km / h or more. Although the detection by the highway detection unit 5 is not limited to a specific detection method, it is based on, for example, a determination method based on a traveling road condition detected by a navigation system or a record of an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection). The method of judging the road situation, the method of comprehensively judging the data obtained by reading the image of the running road and performing image processing, the presence of the median strip, the number of lanes, the image recognition of the display board, etc. Is used.

  The controller 6 automatically turns on the high-speed light distribution lamp 3 when the vehicle speed reaches a predetermined speed. However, if the high-speed light distribution lamp 3 is turned on while driving in the city, glare may be given to surrounding vehicles, etc., so that when the highway detection unit 5 determines that the vehicle 7 is traveling on the highway, Only turn on the lamp 3 for high-speed light distribution.

  The control unit 6 changes a predetermined speed (reference speed: hereinafter, this speed value is referred to as a “threshold value”) for turning on and off the high-speed light distribution lamp 3 according to the acceleration of the vehicle 7, thereby The timing for turning on and off the light distribution lamp 3 is changed. For this reason, the control unit 6 calculates the acceleration based on the time change of the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detection unit 4.

  FIGS. 4A to 4C are graphs showing how the vehicle 7 in a stopped state (speed 0 km / h) reaches 100 km / h at time t, and FIG. 4A shows a constant acceleration. The graph when the speed reaches 100 km / h, (b) is a graph when acceleration is rapidly increased and reaches 100 km / h, and (c) is the speed when the acceleration is moderated from the middle to 100 km / h. It is a graph when / h is reached.

In the case of normal acceleration (for example, 0.4 to 0.6 m / s ² ), the control unit 6 sets the threshold value to 90 km / h, and in the case of sudden acceleration (for example, 0.6 m / s ² or more). In this case, the threshold value is changed to 80 km / h, and in the case of slow acceleration (for example, 0.4 m / s ² or less), the threshold value is changed to 95 km / h.

In the case shown in FIG. 4A, the acceleration of the vehicle 7 is about 0.5 m / s ² and corresponds to the normal acceleration, so when the vehicle speed reaches 90 km / h (at time t0), the light distribution is passed. The high-speed light distribution lamp 3 is additionally lit in addition to the lamp for lighting. On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 4B, the speed changes at the speed t1, and the speed increases at an acceleration of about 0.7 m / s ² from the time t1 to the time t0. For example, a speed change state as shown in (b) is shown when it is necessary to greatly accelerate in a short time as when joining the main road of a highway. When the vehicle 7 is accelerating rapidly, the driver generally tends to turn his / her viewpoint farther forward, so the high-speed light distribution lamp 3 can be used at a relatively early stage (before the vehicle reaches 90 km / h). It is desirable to make it easy to secure a far field of view by lighting. For this reason, when the vehicle 7 rapidly accelerates as shown in FIG. 4B, the control unit 6 temporarily reduces the threshold from 90 km / h to 80 km / h, so that the timing suitable for the driver is obtained. Turn on the additional high-speed light distribution lamp.

In the case of FIG.4 (c), the vehicle which accelerated rapidly at the beginning decelerates acceleration at the time speed t2, and the acceleration after time t2 is about 0.35 m / s < ² >. In such a case, the driver tends to turn the viewpoint toward the vicinity of the front of the vehicle as compared with the case of performing the rapid acceleration as shown in FIG. 4B, and therefore, when the vehicle 7 reaches 90 km / h. If the high-speed light distribution lamp 3 is additionally lit, it may be felt that the lamp 3 has been lit at a slightly earlier timing than the driver desires. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4C, the control unit 6 temporarily increases the threshold from 90 km / h to a value of 95 km / h when the vehicle 7 is slowly accelerating. The lamp for high-speed light distribution is turned on at a timing suitable for the driver. In addition, when a moderately accelerated vehicle travels stably at a vehicle speed near the threshold (90 km / h) set during normal acceleration, it is frequently used for high-speed light distribution by temporarily increasing the threshold. It is possible to prevent repeated lighting and extinguishing of the lamp.

  FIG. 5 shows the switching on / off state of the high-speed light distribution lamp 3 when the control unit 6 changes the threshold as described above (in the case (a)) and not (in the case (b)). It is the graph which showed. Compared to the case where the threshold value is not changed, the number of times the high-speed light distribution lamp 3 is switched on and off is reduced when the threshold value is changed, and the driver is less likely to feel bothered. Further, the valve life can be extended by reducing the number of times of switching.

  Thus, when the vehicle 7 is accelerating rapidly, the control unit 6 changes the threshold value according to the acceleration of the vehicle 7 so that the high-speed light distribution lamp 3 is turned on early to secure a far field of view. When the vehicle is slowly accelerating, the timing for turning on the high-speed light distribution lamp 3 is delayed to clarify the field of view near the vehicle, and after a certain increase in speed, the high-speed light distribution lamp 3 It is possible to light the high-speed light distribution lamp 3 at a timing suitable for the driver.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the vehicle accelerated moderately does not increase the vehicle speed to a higher threshold (95 km / h), and is constant near the threshold (90 km / h) set during normal acceleration. When the speed is maintained, the control unit 6 may intentionally change the threshold value to a low value, for example, about 80 km / h. Even if the threshold value is temporarily changed to a high value (95 km / h) due to slow acceleration of the vehicle, the threshold value is restored to the normal acceleration value after a certain time (90 km / h). After returning, the lighting of the high-speed light distribution lamp is frequently turned on and off, which may cause trouble for the driver. For this reason, when the vehicle 7 does not accelerate to the threshold value that has become higher during slow acceleration and the speed near the threshold value during normal acceleration is maintained constant (for example, the speed is maintained substantially constant for the time T in FIG. 6). The control unit 6 changes the threshold value to a low value (for example, about 80 km / h), so that the high-speed light distribution lamp frequently repeats turning on and off after the speed is stabilized at a constant value. Can be prevented. Also, drivers who accelerate slowly tend to drive on highways while keeping a lower speed constant compared to drivers that accelerate rapidly, so changing the threshold to a lower value makes it relatively lower. Sufficient distance vision can be given to a driver who travels on a highway at high speed. Further, the lighting device 3 is switched on and off at a timing suitable for the driver by changing the threshold value of the vehicle for slow acceleration to a low value after the vehicle becomes constant.

  As mentioned above, although the vehicle lamp which concerns on this invention was demonstrated using drawing, the vehicle lamp which concerns on this invention is not necessarily limited to what was mentioned above. For example, although the high-speed light distribution lamp 3 and the passing light distribution lamp 2 described above are separately installed in the vehicle as separate lamps, the passing light distribution can be achieved by switching the shade shape using one lamp. Alternatively, switching to high-speed light distribution may be performed.

In addition, the acceleration value that is a reference for the control unit 6 to change the threshold value is changed in the performance / characteristics of the vehicle, the road condition and the road environment, the country in which the vehicle is used, and the like. When the acceleration shown in a) to (c) is 0.4 to 0.6 m / s ² , the normal acceleration is obtained. When the acceleration is 0.6 m / s ² or more, the sudden acceleration is obtained and the acceleration is 0.4 m / s. In the case of s ² or less, the value of slow acceleration is merely an example and is not limited to this value.

It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the vehicle headlamp which concerns on this invention. It is the figure which showed the light distribution range of the lamp for passing light distribution, and the light distribution range of the lamp for high-speed light distribution compared in plane. It is the figure which contrasted and showed the light distribution range of the lamp for passing light distribution, and the light distribution range of the lamp for high-speed light distribution in the height direction. It is the graph which showed a mode that the high-speed light distribution lamp was additionally lighted in addition to the light distribution lamp passing by until the vehicle in a stop state reached 100 km / h, (a) is 100 km / h with a constant acceleration. / B is a graph showing a case where the speed reached to / h, (b) is a graph when acceleration is rapidly increased to reach 100 km / h in the middle, and (c) is a graph where acceleration is moderated from the middle. Is a graph when the speed reaches 100 km / h. It is the figure which showed a mode that a control part performed switching of turning on and off of the lamp for high-speed light distribution according to the speed of a vehicle, (a) shows the case where a control part changes a threshold value, (b) is a threshold value. It is the figure which showed the case where no change is performed. When the vehicle that has been gradually accelerated maintains a constant speed in the vicinity of the threshold (90 km / h) set during normal acceleration without increasing the vehicle speed to a high threshold (95 km / h), the control unit is arranged at high speed. It is the figure which showed a mode that the light lamp was added.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle headlamp 2 Passing light distribution lamp 3 High-speed light distribution lamp 4 Vehicle speed detection part (vehicle speed detection means)
5 Highway detection unit 6 Control unit (control means)
7 Own vehicle

Claims (1)

A passing light distribution lamp with a narrow light distribution range on the opposite lane side,
A lamp for high-speed light distribution that increases the far field of view by expanding the light distribution range toward the front of the vehicle during high-speed driving;
Vehicle speed detecting means for detecting the speed of the vehicle;
In a vehicle lamp comprising a control means for lighting the high-speed light distribution lamp when the speed detected by the vehicle speed detection means is equal to or higher than a reference speed,
Wherein said control means calculates the acceleration of the vehicle based on the speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting means, be one that changes the value of the reference speed in accordance with the calculated acceleration, the calculated When the acceleration is kept at a low value, the reference speed value is changed to a high value, and after the calculated acceleration is kept at a low value, the speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting means is changed. When the vehicle enters a state in which a value in the vicinity of the reference speed before being changed is maintained, the reference speed is changed to a value lower than the value of the reference speed before the setting is changed .

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